Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Aliens vs. Avengers #2!
How Marvel’s sci-fi horror crossover combines the Foreigner and Avengers franchises in bold new ways, story elements introduced in Ridley Scott’s film Prometheus officially debuts in the alternate continuity miniseries. It’s not just Xenomorphs that are wreaking havoc in this version of the Marvel Universe, as a new development features a prominent synthetic who debuted in the 2012 prequel film, with the franchise’s merger fascinatingly altering the significance of key characters and themes.
Aliens vs. Avengers #2 – written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Esad Ribić – continues where the explosive and devastating first issue of the crossover left off, with the Avengers scattered across the universe and hopeless in the face of the Xenomorph invasion. In the edition’s preview, the Avengers contemplate abandoning Earth after rewriting a key Foreigner prequel scene.
Twisting an important scene from Foreign: Alliance, the Marvel series features three versions of the synthetic David dominating humanoid figures that resembled the Engineers, the creators of humanity.
What the introduction of David and the Engineers means for Marvel’s devastating crossover
Aliens vs. Avengers #2 – Written by Jonathan Hickman; Art by Esad Ribić; Available November 6th from Marvel Comics
With the introduction of the synthetic David in the comics portrayed in the 2012 and 2017 Ridley Scott prequel films by Michael Fassbender, thus confirming the existence of the Engineers in this crossover, Aliens vs. Avengers expands the scope of its franchise narrative. The second edition preview scene is an altered recreation of the scene in Alien: Alliance, where David destroys a planet of figures that closely resemble the Engineers with Xenomorph eggs, deciding that they are primitive and not worthy of being their creators. Artificial intelligence adds a great villain to the miniseries, in addition to the Xenomorph.
Since the Engineers were revealed in Prometheus be the creators of humanity, they likely participated in the creation of the Marvel superheroes and the rest of the Avengers left alive to defend Earth. However, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes could complicate David’s message and his idea that humans are an inferior life form. The Avengers’ immense powers have made them the world’s last hope against the Xenomorph invasion, and although they look like they’re about to finally give up in the Aliens vs. Avengers #2 Previously, their ability to fight advanced alien species could help them avenge humanity.
Hickman and Ribić expertly bring together the story of Alien and Avengers in exciting and unexpected ways
Aliens vs. Avengers #2 – Main Cover by Esad Ribić; Variant covers by Paco Medina, Andrea Sorrentino and more
Aliens vs. Avengers It could easily have been a very simple and straightforward mash-up of the two franchises, with strictly Marvel superheroes taking on Xenomorphs in a space survival horror adventure. Solidifying its status as one of the best comics of the year, Hickman and Ribić extract interesting and complex themes from Foreigner franchise beyond its objectively terrifying monsters. With the Engineers, David, and Weyland-Yutani being important to the story, along with things that would be deeper cuts in non-Marvel reading Foreigner fans like Krakoa and Shi’ar, the crossover is an inventive fusion of the two franchises’ lore.
With Marvel heroes potentially coming face to face with characters and themes first introduced in Prometheusthe Avengers open up bold new possibilities in Foreigner tradition as the two franchises join forces for an epic story.
The Engineers were one of the most debated and discussed elements of Ridley Scott’s prequels, along with Michael Fassbender’s synthetic model being standout additions to the franchise’s lore. Although the creators of humanity are shrouded in mystery in Foreigner films, the secrets of their creation could be revealed even further as they enter the fray of the Marvel Multiverse. With Marvel heroes potentially coming face to face with characters and themes first introduced in Prometheusthe Avengers open up bold new possibilities in Foreigner tradition as the two franchises join forces for an epic story.
Aliens vs. Avengers #2 will be available on November 6, 2024 from Marvel Comics.
2012’s Prometheus is the fifth film in the Alien franchise and was directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce, the film acts as a direct prequel to 1979’s Alien.